Developers pitch smartphone apps for MTA riders

Kristin Loeb wants to make it easier -- and safer -- for visually impaired riders to navigate New York City's bustling subways.

"Feeling around on a subway wall looking for Braille is not an ideal situation," the Manhattan resident said.

Her team was one of seven to present concepts for new rider-friendly smartphone transit apps during a competition Saturday sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and AT&T.

The 3-year-old App Quest challenge urges software developers to use the latest MTA data to assist passengers on subways, buses and trains. The event was held at NYU's Center for Urban Science and Progress campus in Brooklyn.

Loeb's team won one of three $500 preliminary grants, with bigger prizes to be awarded later.

Their app would allow users wearing headphones to hear useful -- and sometimes vital -- prompts linked to GPS that would help them on their way.

One message, for example, would let the person know if they're waiting for a train on the mezzanine instead of a platform. The team includes Mike Cush of Brooklyn, who is visually impaired; Aaron Pelzer of the Bronx; and Dharmarajan Ayakkad of Jersey City.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

Another winner, Michael Vilabrera of Queens, plans to improve an app he already launched that locates entrances and exits to transit stations.

Designed for riders who find mass transit too crowded and confusing, Vilabrera said his app helps them plan trips better from "end to end."

The third winning team met at the event. Ash Kamel and Nathan Johnson, both of Manhattan, pitched an app that rates subways and buses with updated data on on-time performance and crime statistics.

Users would be able to get an overall score and open graphs displaying how the rating was reached, Johnson said.

Finished apps are due in February. Winners will be announced in March, sharing a $50,000 grant provided by AT&T.

The company wants creative developers to capitalize on new equipment recently installed under Grand Central Terminal for the subway system that works like a GPS system but is precise to the foot, said Neil Giacobbi, an AT&T spokesman.